President Nelson Mandela I

A cemcrete work titled, President Nelson Mandela I, completed in 1998 by the South African sculptor, Mike Edwards (b. 1938). Edwards is a great admirer of the late president Nelson Mandela. During the years in which Mandela was incarcerated, Edwards collected some of his banned publications. On many occasions, the artist proposed ideas to the African National Congress (ANC) for sculptures of Mandela, even before his election as President in 1994. However, it was only in 1998, when Edwards could finally realise his sculpture of President Mandela, when the South African National Boxing Control Commission commissioned the portrait of President Nelson Mandela I. In this sculpture by Edwards, the words ‘Children Our Future’ are inscribed on the front of the work, showing the love Mandela had for children and the better future he strived to provide children with. Short Biography: Mike Edwards was born in Port Elizabeth South Africa in 1938. In 1991, he settled in the Cradle of Humankind area, north of Johannesburg. He studied art initially at the Port Elizabeth Art School where he gained the National Art Teachers Certificate. He subsequently obtained a BA and MA in Fine Arts from the University of Pretoria. His first teaching post was in Bloemfontein where he became Head of the Art Department and Vice-Principal of the then Technical College. In 1973, he accepted a post as a lecturer at the University of Pretoria, later becoming Associate Professor of Fine Art. In 1990, he left teaching to become a full-time practicing artist. He has undertaken numerous visits overseas where has made a particular study of bronze as a medium for sculpture. These included foundries in America, the United Kingdom, France and Italy and the facility of Hermann Noack in Berlin. Edward received many commissions, including a 20m high stainless steel sculpture in Pretoria, the Delville Wood Panel in Longueval, France, and many portraits of public figures, academics and fellow artists. He has works in public buildings in South Africa such as the SA Medical and Dental Council, State Theatre, Civitas and Momentum Life, all in Pretoria, and some provincial buildings of the Free State. Edwards has exhibited in group shows since 1959 in South Africa, America, Germany, and the UK. Edwards has a renowned artist's career in portraiture with over 154 portraits completed spanning fifty years, 1958-2008. His iconic works are found in several notable collections in the University of Pretoria, University of Johannesburg, University of Potchefstroom, University of Bloemfontein, in the Pretoria Art Museum, as well as in many private collections in South Africa and internationally.